SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. — Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced Bullitt County will now be included into the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.

The program provides federal support to law enforcement agencies in the designated counties with equipment, technology and other resources to combat drug production and trafficking.

According to McConnell’s office, the senior senator contacted the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in support of Bullitt County’s application to the program.

“Addiction and substance abuse continue to take a deadly toll on Kentuckians, and the influx of meth, cocaine and opioids has only intensified this struggle. Thankfully, we have dedicated law enforcement leaders in Kentucky committed to cutting off the flow of illicit substances at its source and reducing violence associated with drug trafficking,” said McConnell.

“Securing a HIDTA designation has been a top priority in Bullitt County for years, and the uptick in illegal drugs infiltrating our community has further proven this need,” said Bullitt County Judge/Executive Jerry Summers.

The Republican Senate minority leader said he has helped 38 counties in the state receive HIDTA designation, and over half or all Kentuckians live in a HIDTA county. That includes some of the hardest-hit counties across the state — Jefferson, Hardin, Nelson, Madison, Montgomery, Powell, Boyd, Clark, Logan, Simpson and Daviess counties.

McConnell said he also helped secure the inclusion of Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in the Ohio HIDTA in 2016.